The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-24
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Passage Of the Agricultural Department Bill
-Transfer of the Signal Service.

Passage Of the Agricultural Departm ent Bill
Transfer of the Signal Service.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Petitions in very large
numbers from Grand Army posts asking for passage
of the dependent-pension bill over the Presidents
veto, were presented from Ohio, Michigan Illinois.
Indiana, Connecticut, Pennsylvania Minnesota, New
York Iowa and Maine.
The Senate tlsen proceeded to consideration of
House bills on the calendar. The first bill taken up
was one to change the Eastern and Northern ju-
dical districts of Texas.
Mr.. Vest moved, a substitute, the bill to estab-
fish United States Court in the Indian Territory.
A general debate followed and continued until 2
o'clock when the bill laid aside and the unfinished
business announced being the bill to create the
Department of Agriculture and Labor.
Mr. Jones. OF Arkansas, made an argument in sup
port of the bill
The several amendments reported by the Senate
committee on agriculture to the House bill were
agreed to- down to the providing for the transfer
OF the Signal Service Bureau to the Department of
Agriculture and Labor. That led to discussion.
Mr.. Morgan moved to amend the amendment by
limiting 1T to the weather service of the Signal
service Bureau.
The consideration of the agricultural department
bill was interrupted to allow the presentation of a
message from the President in relation to the Cutting
matter in Mexico which referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations and the presentation of
ference report on the pension APPROXIMATION bill,
which agreed to.
Mr.. Morgans amendment agreed to; and the
section was further amended motion of Mr.. Ali
son. by including in the subordinate force the second
ieutenants in the service of the bureau and by
providing that the compensation paid to the
pioyes and enlisted men shall continue as now :,
Mr.. Harrison inquired of Mr.. Morgan what would
be left OF the signal service of the army the transfer
were made
Mr. Morgan replied that there would be nothing left
of it except the chefa brigadiergene and sixteen
lleutenants who belonged to the army, but not
assigned to regiments.
Mr.. Harrison-Then the chief signal officer and the
sixteen heutenants are not to be transferred
Mr.. Morgan-The amendment provides that the
service shall go on until the President appoints a
chief of the bureau.
Mr.. Miiler-The transfer does not at all affect the
signal service corps of the army
Finally vote taken the section transferring
the weather service of the sgnalservee bureau as
amended, and it was then agreed toyeas, 81; nays
10 The bill was then passed without division and
conference asked.
1.-THE bill creates executive department. to be
known as the Department of Agriculture and Labor,
with secretary and assistant secretary to be APP
pointed by the President by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. The secretary is receive
the same salary the heads of the other executive
salary the assistant secretary of the Interior De-
partment The bureau of labor and the weather
service of the sgnaservice bureau are TO be trans
ferred to the Department of Agricultural
The Senate then took up the pleuro pneumonia bill
Mr. Mcpherson moved to postpone it until to- morrow
and to proceed to consideration of the House joint
resolution for an investigation of the Pacific rail
roads The motion was defeated-yeas ~, nays Il
Mr. Van Wyck suggested, in view of the importance
OF the matter that Friday next be designated for it
consideration
Mr. Edmunds objected.
Mr.. Hoar gave notice that he would tomorrow asl
| the Senate to assign time fprobably o'clock OF
Friday for considering the Pacific railroad inquir,
| bill,
Mr.. Frye made appeal to the Senate to take ~
and consider message from the President vetoing
bill that would allow of pension to Thona
| g. Hopkins, late of the Maine Volunteers. He de
scribed the case a remarkably exceptional one.
The bill passed the Presidents veto. by
! vote of 55 to 6. The six nays were Messrs. Beck
Berry, Blackburn, Coke, Harris and Vance. Tn
| Senate then adjourned.